Sport

7 DAYS IN 7 POINTS

7 Days in 7 Points

So Jack Grealish has chosen to represent England…
Why this is such big news I do not know. He’s not Messi. He’s not even Fabian Delph. He’s a decent little player, but is he going to make the difference for England when it matters, in the final minutes of a major tournament when we’re trailing 1-0 to Argentina? No, of course he isn’t. Grealish is another example of an English youngster that has played 5 or 6 decent games and is now being touted as the next saviour of our national team. Let’s keep this in perspective; the kid is nothing special.

Without Kompany, Manchester City’s defence is worrying leaky
Kompany is the rock at the heart of City’s defence. It’s somewhat surprising to see that a team with so much money, and the capacity to strengthen any position at will, struggles so much when one player is injured, but that’s the way it is for City. Tottenham’s 4-1 win over the weekend was not only tremendous viewing for myself, but served to highlight how fragile Pellegrini’s side is when the Belgian is missing. I still think City will end up winning the title this season, but it’s vital that Mangala and Otamendi prove their worth in the captain’s absence.

Arsenal are genuine title contenders
Even without the plethora of summer reinforcements many fans clamoured for, Arsene Wenger’s side is a force to be reckoned with. Theo Walcott seems to be back in the goals, while the key duo of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil can unlock any defence when they are on form. The key for Arsenal this season will be avoiding injuries; the squad is thin, but if the senior players can remain problem-free, the Gunners will definitely be challengers. They may be struggling in the Champions League, but that could be a blessing when the fixtures start coming thick and fast.

Erik Lamela could finally be ready to settle at Tottenham
It’s taken more than two years, but Tottenham’s £30m man Erik Lamela finally looks like he could become a solid addition to the Spurs team. He has scored two goals in three games and put in a man of the match display as Tottenham battered Manchester City at White Hart Lane. He appears to have bulked up a little and has certainly grown accustomed to the pace of the Premier League, but he’ll need to continue putting in stellar performances if Tottenham fans are to forgive him for two remarkably underwhelming seasons.

When Lukaku wants to be, he is a defender’s nightmare
I’m not sure if it’s because the lad lacks motivation or if he’s simply an erratic performer, but when Lukaku is on form he is a terror for defences. He’s big, burly, has a decent bit of pace on him, and isn’t afraid to jump in to places where he could get hurt. He’s often likened to Drogba and it’s easy to see where the comparisons come from, but he’ll never reach that level unless he manages to sort out his consistency. If he can do that, then Everton have a ridiculous talent on their hands.

In Depay and Martial, Manchester United have two potentially world class players
Depay and Martial are still young – 21 and 19 respectively – but they have both shown that they have the capacity to be truly world class players. The football hipsters will claim that they were well aware of the pair’s quality before their arrival in the Premier League, but the truth is that they were gambles. Both were playing in inferior leagues and with inferior sides, so it wasn’t certain they would be able to step up in the Premier League. However, both players are already justifying their fees, and could prove to be the catalyst Manchester United need to get back on top once again.

The league title is already beyond Chelsea
If Chelsea’s draw with Newcastle proves anything, then it’s that Chelsea are not capable of winning the league. Prospective champions need to be able to prove their worth when the doubters come calling. The Blues needed a win on Saturday to prove they can fight, to prove they can beat lowly teams even when the pressure is on. Instead, Mourinho’s men crumbled in the first 60 minutes and only managed to snatch a draw because of Newcastle’s inherent inability to hold on to a lead. Chelsea should finish top four, but a title challenge will not happen.